Volcanic ash closes Mexico regional airport

In this image released by the Mexican Navy (SEMAR), steam and ash rise from the crater of the Popocatepetl volcano, left, on the outskirts of Mexico City as seen from inside a navy aircraft as it approaches the volcano on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Behind at right is the volcano Iztaccihuatl. Last Saturday, Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention raised the volcano alert from Stage 2 Yellow to Stage 3 Yellow, the final step before a Red alert, when possible evacuations could be ordered
— AP

In this image released by the Mexican Navy (SEMAR), steam and ash rise from the crater of the Popocatepetl volcano, left, on the outskirts of Mexico City as seen from inside a navy aircraft as it approaches the volcano on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Behind at right is the volcano Iztaccihuatl. Last Saturday, Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention raised the volcano alert from Stage 2 Yellow to Stage 3 Yellow, the final step before a Red alert, when possible evacuations could be ordered
/ AP

In this image released by the Mexican Navy (SEMAR), steam and ash rise from the crater of the Popocatepetl volcano on the outskirts of Mexico City as seen during an over flight on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Last Saturday, Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention raised the volcano alert from Stage 2 Yellow to Stage 3 Yellow, the final step before a Red alert, when possible evacuations could be ordered after the Popocatepetl volcano spit out a cloud of ash and vapor 2 miles (3 kilometers)— AP

In this image released by the Mexican Navy (SEMAR), steam and ash rise from the crater of the Popocatepetl volcano on the outskirts of Mexico City as seen during an over flight on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Last Saturday, Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention raised the volcano alert from Stage 2 Yellow to Stage 3 Yellow, the final step before a Red alert, when possible evacuations could be ordered after the Popocatepetl volcano spit out a cloud of ash and vapor 2 miles (3 kilometers)
/ AP

MEXICO CITY 
An airport serving Mexico's fourth-largest city has suspended operations due to volcanic ash from the Popocatepetl volcano.

The international airport in Puebla was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure. The closure affected six domestic and international flights to Houston and Dallas, Texas.

The airport is east of Mexico City and about 20 miles (30 kilometers) from the 17,886-foot (5,450-meter) volcano.

At the Mexico City airport, Alaska Airlines on Friday canceled its daily flight to and from Los Angeles.

Puebla airport spokesman Herbert Lopez Palma says that the ash could pose a risk in takeoff and landing.

Authorities said this week that a lava dome is growing inside the crater and could cause further eruptions.